NZ's first live radio broadcast
We know that Lancaster Park delivered a unique range of firsts: national firsts in women’s and men’s cricket and rugby. But there is another notable first that is less well known. It was the first live sports commentary to be broadcast from a game in New Zealand. The date was May 29th, 1926, and radio broadcasting was still finding its place as a new powerful medium in society. A local radio station 3AC arranged local broadcaster Alan Allardyce to provide commentary at Lancaster Park for a club rugby match between High School Old Boys and Christchurch. The broadcast proved popular, and Allardyce went on a start commentating at local race meetings and cricket matches – although, as with current arguments, concerns were raised that it may deter some spectators from attending. Ultimately, the idea of receiving live commentary proved too popular to ignore and again Lancaster Park, in 1926, laid claim to the birth of this practice.
The attached picture appeared in the NZ Listener. It shows Alan Allardyce broadcasting a live horse race meeting from a nearby haystack in 1926.